I chose Keep Skill Link. I find some pokemon lacking a good coverage or struggles to switch-in safely like Anorith and Swinub.
Now I'm starting to realized that Skill Link is slightly broken, this is due that multi-hit moves surprisingly hits hard on low level. I'm going to post some potential abuser of this ability.
Anorith's high attack and good speed tier makes it one of the common abuser of Skill Link thanks to its access to Rock Blast. And couple with Life Orb, it is able to 2HKO nearly any unresisted pokemon without any boost.
Calc :
236 Atk Life Orb Anorith Rock Blast (5 hits) vs. 212 HP / 196+ Def Eviolite Spritzee: 20-25 (74 - 92.5%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Possible damage amounts: (4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5)
236 Atk Life Orb Anorith Rock Blast (5 hits) vs. 196 HP / 236 Def Eviolite Nosepass: 20-25 (90.9 - 113.6%) -- approx. 6.3% chance to OHKO
Possible damage amounts: (4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 5)
With 5 hits, it deals total minimum of
20 Damage. Even the highest Defense that didn't resist Rock, Nosepass, gets 2HKOed
Only Bulky Rock-resisted pokemon can reliably switch-in to it, but its access to Knock Off means they get crippled by losing their Eviolite (unless you run like Sticky Hold) and deal this damage.
Calc :
236 Atk Life Orb Anorith Rock Blast (5 hits) vs. 84 HP / 108+ Def Ferroseed: 15-20 (68.1 - 90.9%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Possible damage amounts: (3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4)
236 Atk Life Orb Anorith Rock Blast (5 hits) vs. 132 HP / 132 Def Hippopotas: 15-20 (60 - 80%) -- guaranteed 2HKO
Possible damage amounts: (3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 4)
Rock-resisted without Eviolite deals total minimum of
15 Damage. It would seem that the ability
Stamina is able to counter Skill Link due to being able to increased its defense per hit, and the fact all multi-hit moves available are all physical attacks. Now for the other user and their respective multi-hit move.
Icicle Spear user :
Bullet Seed user :
Arm Thrust user :
Other Rock Blast user :
The listed above can also use Skill Link decently and deal minimum of 15 Damage unresisted without Life Orb. However, most of them have middling speed tier and are reliant on Choice Scarf to outspeed the entire unboosted pokemon. In Onix's case, it faces competition from Anorith thanks to its higher attack, slightly faster and access to Knock Off, It can also deal higher damage on some resisted non-eviolite pokemon like being able to KO Ferroseed with Life Orb Knock Off followed by 5 Rock Blast.
In conclusion, i think that
Skill Link is still fine and should KEEP it. The introduction of Stamina can help counter this ability. Anorith is rather frail and reliant on Rock Blast for high damage. It is suspectible to get revenge killed by a Choice Scarf user or some strong priority. It is also suspectible to get crippled by a status such are burn and paralysis.
Now What is your opinion about this ability in LC AAA? Please post it on the thread.